Who are now being propped up by the political right to gain points in an election year? What could possibly be their motivation?

But what do you expect? And what does it matter? The other soldiers are either telling the truth, or they're not. I don't think it's all that shocking that the WH's political opposition is taking advantage of what, on the surface, looks like a colossal screw-up. If the shoe was on the other foot, you know that the Dems would be doing the same.